YOUNGSTERS with special needs can enjoy bags more sports, thanks to new equipment.

The Saturday Fun Club, in Stanley Youth Centre, won bags of adapted sports gear after a successful application to the Youth Sport Trust's Tops programme. Derwentside District Council's sports development team helped the club apply for the scheme. Derwentside Scouts have also received a bag of the adapted gear. Sports development officers will train staff and carers at the centre and Scout leaders on how to use the equipment.

COUNCIL MEETING: Derwentside District Council's overview and scrutiny committee will meet on Tuesday, March 18, at 6pm, in Consett Civic Centre. The agenda includes a report on charges for some of the authority's leisure services, including the hire of the Lamplight Arts Centre, in Stanley, the Empire Theatre, in Consett, and Consett Civic Hall.

MINING HISTORY: Three courses will be held this week at libraries for people wanting to do research on mining history. A course at Bowburn will start on Wednesday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. One will be held at Esh Winning on Thursday and at Newton Hall on Friday, both between 10am and noon.

PET ADVICE: Experts from the Burnopfield's Reptile Trust will be giving free advice on keeping exotic pets such as snakes and lizards on Sunday, at the Pets at Home store, at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me, Durham, between 11am and 4pm.

DEPOT PLANS: Dragonville Developments is seeking detailed planning permission from Durham City Council for a retail park on the former J and G Archibalds Distribution Depot at Rennys Lane, Gilesgate, Durham.

PHOTO WALK: Photographer Philip Nixon will lead a walk for camera enthusiasts in Durham tomorrow starting at 10.30am outside the castle gateway, Palace Green. It costs £2, with concessions £1.

BUSKERS NIGHT: Baz Warne's Buskers Night will be held tonight at The Ropery, Websters Bank, Sunderland, at 8pm. Admission is free. For further details call the venue on 0191-514 7171.

CAR CRASH: One person was taken to Durham's University Hospital on Saturday after being cut free from a car that collided with another outside the Milburngate Shopping Centre, in the city centre, on Saturday lunchtime.

NEW BUNGALOW: Durham City Council is being asked to grant planning permission for a detached bungalow with an integral garage to be built on a lane, near Meadow View, Goatbeck Terrace, at Langley Moor.